Leadership, Violence, and School Climate

Case Studies in Creating Non-Violent Schools

Kyle Blanchfield and Peter Ladd

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In the book, Leadership, Violence and School Climate: Case Studies in Creating Non-Violent Schools, three important themes are emphasized namely, democratic leadership, violence and school climate. The book recognizes that safety should be the first issue of concern when addressing school violence. However, violence in schools should not be the sole concern of outside experts who advocate for lock downs, metal detectors and bullet proof glass. Through democratic school leadership violence can be reduced by those professionals actually working in schools. The book emphasizes that reduction in school violence originates from school leaders having a comprehensive understanding of the climate found in schools. Leadership, violence and school climate are connected through the use of democratic principles that address; crisis, trauma, empowerment, common ground, critical thinking, assertiveness and others. The book points out how schools can reverse their reactionary stance to violence, and become pro-active through the practice of democratic principles.« lessmore »

Kyle Elizabeth Blanchfield, J.D., is the President and CEO of the Northern New York Centers for Conflict Resolution, which covers the entire northern region of New York State. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education in St. Lawrence University’s Graduate Leadership Program.Peter D. Ladd, Ph.D. is a tenured faculty member at St. Lawrence University in the Graduate School of Education. He coordinates the Certificate of Advanced Studies Program in Counseling, and works in St. Lawrence University's satellite graduate school program on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation.

AcknowledgmentsForewordPrefaceChapter 1: OverviewDemocracy and LeadershipLeadership and School ClimateLeadership and School ViolencePart 1: InterventionChapter 2: CrisisCase StudyCrisis and School ClimateSchool Violence and CrisisSummaryChapter 3: TraumaCase StudyTrauma and School ClimateSchool Violence and TraumaSummaryChapter 4: EmotionsCase StudyEmotions and School ClimateSchool Violence and EmotionsSummaryPart 2: PreventionChapter 5: EmpowermentCase StudyEmpowerment and School ClimateSchool Violence and EmpowermentSummaryChapter 6: AssertivenessCase StudyAssertiveness and School ClimateSchool Violence and AssertivenessSummaryChapter 7: Common GroundCase Study

As a 40 year veteran of school leadership I thought I was reading my professional life experiences in the case studies that Blanchfield and Ladd analyze in their book. They clearly go upstream to the source of school violence as they emphasize the importance of democratic leadership and apply best practices to make our schools safe. A must read for any school principal.— Dr. Gerald D. Slemmer, Principal, Red Mountain High School in Mesa, AZ

After reading this book, it is clear that the authors understand a democratic style of leadership and its connection to violence and school climate. I cannot emphasize enough the role school leadership needs to take when dealing with violence in our schools. Leadership should be about dignity, integrity and responsibility. Drs. Kyle Blanchfield and Peter Ladd provide an excellent resource for promoting these democratic principles.— Tish Jepsen, Director of Career Services, Pennsylvania State University Berks

This book highlights the impact of emotions, empowerment, assertiveness, common ground, humor, critical thinking, generosity, and trust on school climate through clear and helpful examples. The authors show how school leaders can leverage these skills to create a positive climate in the classroom and among the staff members and school community....I recommend this to school leaders who are seriously invested in developing even safer, more supportive, engaging and flourishing schools: the foundation for learning and healthy development!— Jonathan Cohen Ph.D., National School Climate Center, Teachers College, Columbia University